Ordered to Care

Chapter 5

“Strangers to Boston”: who becomes a nurse

1880’s – 1930’s

Older, widows

Urban

Native & foreign-born

(Canada ~ Maritimes

area:

English, Scottish,

Scotch-Irish)

UNTRAINED / TRAINED

Younger, single

Native & rural-born

Chosen by nursing

schools

Boston City – large,

urban

metropolitan hospital

Long Island –

almshouse &

small chronic-care

institute

Somerville –

community volunteer

hospital

BOSTON EXAMPLE

20 – 35

( > 35: too hard or too set in her

ways)

Boston: 2/3 req. some HS

Boston City: writing & reading

tests

Ideal: Self-supporting & not a

burden to family; Unmarried

Genteel eachers

Virtuous, hard-working

NURSING SCHOOLS BY EARLY 1900’S

More 17 – 18 year olds

Less maturity/spirituality

Boston: 55% > 2 yrs HS

Directly from school

Clerks, sales, stenographers

Domestics, untrained

hospital nurses, nursing

school dropouts

Opportunity for Service

Income

Geographic mobility

Safe haven from city

dangers

Good moral training

Discipline / “finish”

“Family” environment

NSG SCHOOLS PROVIDED

Could leave only to care for

seriously ill family member

No say in: schedule or

Attire (dress, apron, cap)

Work was drudgery!

No personal or sick leave

Restrictions / Containment

“failed to live up to promises”

“take up teaching or

stenography”

“not what it is ‘cracked up’ to

be”

“Romance is Gone in Nursing

the Sick” – Boston Herald,

1907

http

://vimeo.com/13989016

ALTRUISM? AUTONOMY?

Many Disenchanted

With Nursing

Culture: Nurse as Hero

“End of the Road” ~

1919 film for women

JOHNSON & JOHNSON

1930’S – 1940’S

“Forward, on the threshold

of a noble career, the

graduate nurse moves

forward in a calling devoted

to the service of humanity –

Wherever she may serve,

her uniform stands as a

symbol of trained

intelligence, her courage

and loyalty inspire respect

and confidence.”

THEN & NOW